Hydraulic system



y 2, 1933- J. LICHTENSTEHN 1, 6,980

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Filed Oct. 18, 1930 $20 I 9 0 dnLI/Fm if 61% dam mATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE JOSEPHLICHTENSTEIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOSTER WHEELERCORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK HYDRAULICSYSTEM Application filed October 18, 193i). Serial No. 489,507.

My invention relates to hydraulics and more particularly to the pumpingof water and like fluids. In one phase, my invention relates to thecooling of condensers by cooling water and has for its object to providea condenser with water at low pressure from a source of water which issometimes or always of higher pressure while conserving a good portionof the energy otherwise dissipated in the reduction of pressure of theWater from the higher pressure source to the pressure of the condenser.

The nature of the invention will become apparent from a consideration ofthe following description taken in conjunction with the acompanyingdrawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, which drawingforms a part of this specification, and on which:

Fig. 1 shows a system in which a condenser is cooled by water of highstatic pressure;

Fig. 2 shows a motor-pump unit which I have designed for the system ofFig. 1, and

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically a modification of the motor and pumpmechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a condenser 14, connected to the discharge ofa turbine 15 and comprising an inlet water box 16 and an outlet waterbox 17 connected by water 39 tubes 18, is supplied with cooling waterfrom a main 51. This main carries a high pressure, as for example, 90pounds per square inch. If the cooling water were admitted to thecondenser at 90 pounds, the condenser would have to be of expensiveconstruction. If the pressure of the water is reduced as by a reducingvalve, there is an energy loss represented by the drop in pressurethrough the reducing valve.

In accordance with the invention, I first pass the water through a motoror turbine and design the rotor of the turbine so that the pressure isreduced from, for example, 90 pounds to 6 pounds. The energy representedby the drop in pressure is transferred to the shaft of the motor-pumpunit, and this energy is utilized to drive the pump. The motordischarges the water to the condenser wherein the pressure may bereduced, due to friction loss, from, for example, 6 pounds to 1 pound.From the condenser the water fiows'into a pump and the pump raises thepressure of the water to the 90 pound pressure of the main feed line. Itis only necessary to supply an amount of energy to the motorpump unitcorresponding to the friction losses in the whole system.

i In Figs. 1 and 2 the cooling water leaves the conduit 51 throughconduit 52 and passes into the motor volute 53. The water then passesthrough the motor impeller 54 and out from the motor into conduit 52. Itwill be understood that the inlet and outlet to the pump are given thesame reference character because there is in effect one conduit in whichthe motor is interposed. Conduit 52 connects with the water box 16 ofthe condenser. The water passes through the condenser and throughconduit 55 to the inlet- 56 of the'pump. The water passes through the;pump impeller 57 and thence through the second portion of conduit 55back into. the main line 51. A check valve 58 may be interposed inconduit 51 to prevent recirculation. The additional energy to compensatefor friction loss is delivered by electric motor 59. The water isreduced in pres- 1 sure in its passage through the motor impeller 54'andthe reduction of pressure is converted into rotational energy of thecommon shaft 60 for the motor and the pump. This drives the pump andraises the pressure in thepump up tothe pressure of the mainline 51.

It will be seen that the axial thrust on the shaft is balanced in thisunit and that the energy. is transferred from the water in one of theconduits to the water in the other of the conduits to permit a reductionin pressure for the condenser without loss of energy corresponding tothe reduction in pressure. The motor and pump need not be made as aunit, but a separate motor and a separate pump may be used as indicatedin Fig. 3, the separate motor 27 operating the pump 26 through anysuitable drive indicated generally at 50. The motor and pump need notnecessarily be of the centrifugal type, but may be of any known type.

It will be understood that the invention may take on various forms andthat I am 100.

not to be limited to the precise structures or arrangements shown on theaccompanying drawing. The invention may be applicable to other elementsto be supplied with water 5 or liquid than a condenser.

What I claim is: Y

1. That improvement in the art of hydraulics which comprises withdrawingfluid from a source under pressure, obtaining work from said fluid byreducing the pressure thereof, conducting the fluid at reduced pressurethrough a heat exchanger, employing said work obtained from said fluidto pump the fluid back to said source and supplying additional work tocompensate for friction loss.

2. That improvement in the art of hydraulics which comprises withdrawingfluid from a source under pressure, obtaining 26 work from said fluid byreducing the pressure thereof, utilizing the fluid at reduced pressureas a cooling medium, employing said work obtained from said fluid topump the fluid back to said source and supplying additional work to aidin the pumping.

3. Apparatus of the character set forth. comprising a fluid motor, afluid pump, means for supplying said motor with fluid under pressure, aheat exchange device to be supsu' plied with fluid at a reducedpressure, means for conveying fluid from said motor to said device,means for conveying fluid from said device to said pump, means fordriving said pump by said motor, means for conveying fluid from saidpump to the supply means and another motor connected to said pump to aidin driving said pump.

4. Apparatus of the character set forth comprising a fluid motor, afluid pump, means 40-for supplying said motor with fluid under pressure,a member to be supplied with fluid at a reduced pressure, means forconveying fluid from said motor to said member, means for conveyingfluid from said member to said is-pump, means for driving said pump bysaid motor, means for conveying fluid from said pump to the supply meansand an additional motor for aiding in driving said pum In testimonywhereof I hereunto a my signature.

' JOSEPH LICHTENSTEIN.

